Garden of Gethsemane

Video Workshop Lesson

Summary of Lesson Activities:

Uses the DVD: Matthew (Visual Bible).

Scripture Reference:

Matthew 26:17
Isaiah 53

Leader Preparation:

• Watch the video ahead of time
• Read the scripture ahead of time.
• Gather the Materials
• Have the movie ready to go.
• Pop the popcorn

Materials List:

• Matthew (Visual Bible)
• Popcorn

Lesson Plan

Opening:

Greet the children and introduce yourself.

Dig:

1. BEFORE showing the video.

Ask the students what they know about Gethsemane.

Have them tell you as many details as they can about the events of the Last Supper and night spent at Gethsemane.

Ask them how THEY would have been feeling that night knowing that:

• a fellow disciple was going to betray Jesus.
• forces were gathering against Jesus.
• Jesus was praying --almost crying in his prayers in Gethsemane
• Jesus is betrayed by a former friend.

Ask them what they would have done that night --would they have run?

What else could Jesus have done?

Ask them to watch the video with you and "figure out what it is that keeps Jesus from running away?"

Start the Video at the verse marker (seen on screen) Matthew 26:17. This is the Last Supper, but it is indispensable for understanding the mood of Gethsemane. End when the disciples flee the Garden.

Point: The Disciples are portrayed as weak and scared. Jesus is strong and confident when he realizes everything is moving according to God's plan.

Point: Jesus mentions at least twice that all this is happening in order that the PROPHETS might be fulfilled. You will need to talk about WHAT prophecies Jesus is referring to.

The prophet most likely Jesus is pointing to is ISAIAH. Isaiah wrote 700 years before Jesus about a MESSIAH that would come and be the "Suffering Servant." God would allow his servant to suffer --and the suffering would be a sign to all people that God is merciful.

Isaiah 53 Study
Have the students open their Bibles to Isaiah 53:1-12 and read this passage (or read it to them). As you go through it, have the students raise their hands when they hear something that sounds like Jesus (and ask them to explain)

1 Who has believed our message? To whom will the LORD reveal his saving power? 2 My servant grew up in the LORD's presence like a tender green shoot, sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. 3 He was despised and rejected a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we did not care.

4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins! 5 But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! 6 All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the guilt and sins of us all. 7 He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. 8 From prison and trial they led him away to his death. But who among the people realized that he was dying for their sins that he was suffering their punishment? 9 He had done no wrong, and he never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man's grave.

10 But it was the LORD's good plan to crush him and fill him with grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have a multitude of children, many heirs. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD's plan will prosper in his hands. 11 When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of what he has experienced, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. 12 I will give him the honors of one who is mighty and great, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among those who were sinners. He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners.

Jesus knows these verses and sees himself as the suffering servant fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah.

The disciples don't understand.... yet.

The Garden of Gethsamane shows Jesus in his most human moment (asking for another way) and a caring moment --healing the servant's ear.

If Time...with Older Students:

What was the prayer which Jesus prayed? (take this cup away from me, not my will but thy will.) It shows that Jesus was still human, and thus it demonstrates that we humans CAN ask God hard questions AND find it within ourselves to obey God even when it is hard.

How was Jesus able to obey and accept this tough decision? It was his relationship with God that gave him faith and strength.

For Very Young Students:

They will have no trouble following the general story, but they may not understand what Jesus is praying for in the garden and what he says to his friends. They won't understand Jesus as the suffering servant, or anything about prophecy. Best to just explain that Jesus knew he could have called down armies from heaven to get help, but instead, he knew that God would bring him back to life at the resurrection and show people he loves them still.

Closing:

Close with a prayer.

A lesson written by Neil MacQueen  

A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.